The Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA) has pledged Hollywood's support in a "national conversation" about gun control, following last week's school shooting in Newtown, Connecticut. The repercussions of the event look set to put America's adherence to the second amendent under the spotlight, with president Obama promising to use "whatever power this office holds" to prevent similar tragedies from occurring again.

"I have reached out to the administration to express our support for the president's efforts in the wake of the Newtown tragedy," said Christopher Dodd, chairman and CEO of the MPAA. "Those of us in the motion picture and television industry want to do our part to help America heal. We stand ready to be part of the national conversation."

It remains to be seen how active a participant the film industry will be – or how much criticism it will face for its alleged role in glamorising gun violence. In the wake of last week's murders, the premieres of two high profile action films – Quentin Tarantino's Django Unchained and the Tom Cruise thriller Jack Reacher – were swiftly cancelled. The premiere of another, less violent picture, Parental Guidance, was also rearranged.

Before taking up the reins of the MPAA, Dodd was a Democratic senator for the state of Connecticut. He announced his resignation ahead of the midterm elections of 2010 and joined the MPAA in March 2011. "As a citizen of Connecticut, and having represented the people there for 36 years in Washington, I have been shocked and profoundly saddened by this tragedy," he said.